FUNDED by the Philippine Sports Commission, top female sambo prospect Sydney Sy has left for Paris, France to train at the Paris University Club of Sambo and Montelliers for next month’s world championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, according to sambo chief PaoloTangcongtian.
“In the absence of female sparring partners in her weight division here, we decided to send Sydney to train abroad for the Worlds. We believe she will do well there,” Tangcongtian said of the athlete, who won a bronze medal in the light-heavyweight class at the world meet last year in Novi Sad, Serbia.
He tipped Sy as one of the country’s top bets for gold in the 7th Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games in Thailand, which has been reset to 2023 to possibly give way to the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games in May next year.
The sambo chief said the other athletes who will see action in the World meet set Nov. 12 to 14 are 30th Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Chino Sy, Cresente Navarez and Mariane Mariano, a 30th SEA Games bronze medalist in the mixed team event.
He added that Baguio-based Mark Striegl, who also won a gold in the 30th SEA Games, is skipping the event because he is preparing for an upcoming United Fighting Championship match.
Tangcongtian thanked the PSC board led by Chairman Butch Ramirez for funding the stint of the athletes in the elite world competition.
